Sorting and gaging apparatus.



W. SHAW.

SORTING AND GAGING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. 1913.

1,226,91 7, Patented May 22,1917,

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W. SHAW SORTING AND GAGING APPARATUS.,

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. I9I3.

1,226,917. Patented May 22, 1917.

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.1 Z5 72 71 i 66 Z 65 3 l 4 J )m 16 \IVQTNESSESQ INVENTOR M W WILLIAMSHAW MW BY v Qmafi ATTORNE Y W. SHAW.

SORTING AND GAGING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. 1913.

1,226,917. 7 Patented May 22,1917.

9SHEETSSHEET &

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Fay. 4 92 v 29 39 33 I fi- J ATTORNEY v w. SHAW. SORTING AND GAGINGAPPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 24, l9l3- Patented May 22, 1917,

9 SHEETS-SHEET 4- INVENTOR W. SHAW.

SORTING AND GAGING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. I9I3.

1,226,917. Patented May 22,1917.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

WITNESSES INVENTOR WILLIAM SHAW MW im m! ATTORNEY W. SHAW.

SORTING AND GAGING APPARATUS. APPLICA'HQN FILED FEB. 24, 1913.

1,226,917. Patented May 22, 1917 9 SHEETS-SHEET 6- W NESSES wx LLl ri gAW WW BY V 02 MW ATTORN E Y W. SHAW.

SORTING AND GAGING APPARATU8.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. 1913.

1 ,226 ,9 l 7. Patented May 22,1917.

9 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES a? M M INVENTOR WILLIAM SHAW ATTORNEY W. SHAW.

SQRTING AND GAGING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. 1913..

1 ,226 ,9 1 7. Patented May 22, 1917.

9 SHEETSSHEET 8- V/ A ESSE 4 INVENTOR (/W M WILLIAM SHAW BY 1%? A 1% MWATTORNEY w. SHAW.

SORTING AND GAGING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. 1913.

1 ,226,917. Patented May 22, 1917.

9 SHEETS SHEET 9.

WITNESSES INVENTOR W WILLIAM SHAW BY MW ATTORNEY INL mwms PETERS a1.PHm-o-unla. WASHINGTON. ov c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM SHAW, OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, OF

CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SOBTING AND GAGING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1917.

Applcation filed February 24, 1913. Serial No. 750,142.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIABI SHAW, a subject of the King of England,residing at Lakewood, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Sorting and G'agingApparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to an improved means for gaging and sortingarticles. The articles particularly referred to are carbon rods, such asare light electrodes, battery electrodes, etc., although the device maybe used for the same purpose with many other bodies. The apparatus asshown is particularly adapted for sorting arc light electrodes into thedilferent diameters. contained in a certain lot. It may obviously beused for other articles to be accurately separated within certain limitsof diameters.

One of the objects of this invention is to decrease the amount of laborand time required in the ordinary method of hand sorting such articles.

Another object is to secure more accurate sorting of these articles.

A third object of my invention is to secure an apparatus which isadaptable for various sizes of rods, or similar articles.

Other objects will appear in the appended descriptions.

In the drawings Figure l is a front view of one form of my machine.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus taken on the line AAof Fig. 1

at right-angles to the view shown in that figure.

Fig. 3 is the top view of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line BB of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of the engaging arm which rotates thefeeding cylinder of the apparatus.

Fig. 6 is an isometric view of the slide which actuates the arm shown inFig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an isometric view of the connecting link for the parts shownin Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of the arrangementused for holding the rods in position and is taken on the line CC ofFig. 2.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of arm and acat'ch used to holdthe cylinder rigid while the engaging arm is being returned.

Fig. 13 is a top View of the parts shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is an isometric view of the catch shown in Figs. 12 and 13.

Fig. 15 is a bottom view of the catch shown in Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view on the line DD of Fig. 2 showing'therelation of the catch in Figs. 12, 13, 14;, and 15.

Fig. 17 is the developed view in elevation of a modified form ofapparatus.

Fig. 18 is a top view of a form of apparatus embodying the. principlesof Fig. 17

Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 18taken on the line E E of Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the split die used in themodification shown in F igs. 17, 18, and 19, and is taken through thecenter of the die.

Fig. 21 is a cross-section of the split die taken on the line FF of Fig.20.

Fig. 22 is a perspective view of a guide way and hopper used to conveythe articles to the receiving hopper.

Heretofore in gaging the diameters of carbon rods such as used inordinary arc lamps, the entire operation has been a manual process. Therods are tried successively in dies of various sizes. The operator firstplaces the carbon in the, smallest die and then tries the carbonsucessively in each larger die, until a die is found of such diameterthat the carbon will slide through with out sticking. After slidingthrough such a die the carbon is conducted into a larger hopper whichcontains the carbons which will pass through the die in connectiontherewith.

In my apparatus, the sorting is done on the same plan as in the manualoperation,

but it is entirely automatic after placing the carbons into the supplyhopper. The carbons are placed in a hopper and by means of my mechanismare delivered and sorted into the various sizes. Forthe purpose ofconveniently describing the operation of the invention, 1 will assumethat the objects to be gaged are carbon rods, which vary in size from.490 to .510 and these are sorted into lots between the sizes of .490 to.495; .495 to .5 and .5 to .505 and .505 and above, although it will beunderstood that these sizes are adopted merely for the purpose ofillustration.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a cylindrical supporting drum 1 serves as aframe upon which the entire machine is supported. A shaft 2, driven byany source of power, revolves in a suitable bearing 3 which for thepurpose of illustration is shown fitted in the drum 1. Two movablesystems are operated from the shaft, one internally and the otherexternally to the drum.

The external system consists of a disk or face plate 4 ad'justablysecured to the shaft 2 by means of the bolt 5. A. hardened steel roller6 is fastened to the plate on the surface nearest the drum by pin 7 andactuates a cam lever 8. The cam lever 8 is pivoted at 9 to a projection10 of the supporting drum. A good bearing surface for the cam lever torotate upon is provided by the bearing 11 and washer 12. The cam surfaceof the cam lever 8 may be divided into four portions: 13, 14, 15, and16, located on the cam in the positions shown. The function of eachsurface will be described later.

The internal system, which will later be described in detail, consistsof the crank 64 keyed or otherwise fastened to the end of the shaft, aconnecting rod 70 which is connected to the crank 64 and to shaft 75 andhas a cam surface 76 thereon. The shaft 7 5 is secured in the head 76which L has rods 92 fastened vertically therein.

The rotation of the shaft 2 produces an upward and downward movement 0fthe rods 92.

The upper end of the cam lever 8 is connected by pin 18 to link 17 andpin 20 con nects the link to slide 19. The slide 19 moves in the channel21 shown in detail in Fig. 6. The channel rests on an angle iron 22which is bolted to the stationary drum 23 at the fiat portion 23, bestshown in position of the slide, channel, link and arm is shown in Fig.4. Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the arm 29 has a raised portion 30, apart 31 of which is cut away to allow the link 26 to be connectedthereto. Link 26 is counter-sunk therein and rotatable through a smallangle. A hole 32 is also cut in the upper portion to allow a catch 33 tobe inserted therein and retained by the collar 34. A spring 35 actuatesthe catch and is retained in the hole by the screw 36. The catch has aslanting surface 37 which permits it to operate the plate 41 in onedirection only. The other end of the arm has a head 39 movably fittedaround the sleeve 39 which rests on drum 23 at the collar 40 as shown inFig. 2.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 4, catch 33 engages the plate 41 by meansof the notches 42 so as to rotate the plate. These notches are spacedapart a distance of one-fifth of the circumference or 72 degrees. Theplate 41 rotates about the sleeve as an axis and is connected by meansof screws to the rotating drum 44, which turns about the sleeve 39 andrests on the head 39.

The drum 44 has grooves 45 therein into which the rods are fed from thehopper 46. A shield 46 surrounds the drum at all places except at thehopper to insure the carbons rising perpendicularly into the bell cranklevers 47. The rods are held in the grooves and released therefrom bythe bell crank levers 47 shown in detail in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 which willbe described later. Holes 51 are cut in the plate 41 directly in linewith the grooves 45 of the drum, so that the rods may be made to falldown the grooves through the plate to the dies 48. The dies 48 arefitted in equidistant holes in the drum 23 and held therein by washers49. The openings of the dies are somewhat funneL shaped at the mouth 50.Below the dies, grooves 52 are cut in the drum 23 and a conical surface53 is provided at the base of the grooves. Beneath the hopper 46, nogrooves are provided as none are needed.

The hopper 46 shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 is fastened to the channel 21by the braces 47 fastened thereto by bolts 48, and consists of abottommember 49 bolted to the braces, side pieces 50 and two back boards 51and 52. The back board 51 is movable on the sloping bottom of the hopperand the back board 52 is stationary and secured to the bottom and sides.The movable back is connected by a cord 53 which is carried over thepulley 54 to a pedal 56 which pivoted at 55. A spring 57 is connected tothe base 58 and returns the pedal to the raised position after it iscompressed. The pulley 54 is fastened to the rod 59 which is connectedacross the sides of the hopper. The springs 60 draw the board 51 towardthe drum 44 to force the rods into the grooves.

At one end the springs are connected to the lugs 61 connected at theside of the hopper and at the other end to the extension rods 62. Theserods are fastened to the movable back and extend through holes in thestationary board and are movable in the slots 63 cut in the sides of thehopper. These slots are parallel to the sloping bottom of 7 describedhereafter.

the hopper. The springs could be fastened directly to the movable back,but to enable a longer spring to be used, the extension rods 62 arepreferable.

The internal moving parts, previously described b iefiy, consist indetail of the crank (34- connected at the end of the shaft 2 by a pin 65fitted into the sleeve 66. The throw of this link is adjustable by meansof a slot 67 and bolt 68. Usual washers 71 and sleeve 72 are provided atthe bearing. The other end of the connecting rod is fastened by pin 73to a projection 7 1 of the shaft 75. The shaft 75 is secured to the head7 6 which moves on the internal surface of the supporting drum 1. Therods 92 are bolted in the head 76 and fastened by nuts 93. The rods passthrough holes 94: in the drum 23 and up into the grooves. The shaft 75X- tends through the sleeve 89 and is reciprocated by the action of theconnecting rod and link. At the upper end of the shaft 75, a cam 76 isadjustably attached by the set screw 77. The cam actuates the bellcranks 17 to release the rods through the mechanism shown in F 8. Theupward motion of the rods 92 raises the articles which are being gagedbut which do not pass through the dies thereunder. They are then liftedthrough the holes 51 and along the slots 45 to open the bell cranks aswill be more fully The articles are thus reengaged by the bell cranks.

Guideways 78 and receiving hoppers 79 are fastened to the supportingdrum. The guideways consist of side pieces 80 and a sloping bottom 81which guide the rods into the circumferential portion formed by thepieces 82 and 83, and bottom 84-. Openings 85 are cut in the bottom 81-,and together with sloping portions 86 and 87, form a bottom which isfunnel shaped. Brackets 88 are fastened to the supporting drum to holdthe guideways. The hopper 7 9 consists of a circumferential troughsupported by the drum. Side pieces 91 are spaced apart so to divide thehopper into four parts 79,

79 79 and 79 The hopper 79 and guideways (8 occupy four-fifths of thec1rcumference, it being unnecessary to provide these parts under thefeeding hopper 46. Four guideways are provided for each receiving hopper7 9 79 7 9 and 79 there being likewise the same number of grooves, dies,bell cranks, levers, and rods 92.

Referring to Fig. 1 which is a section on c the line B B of Fig. 2 thereare four groups entially, contains the arcuate member 104 which isconnected to the spoke. The bell cranks 47 are pivoted at 105 in theslots 101 and circumferential slot 102. Holes 106 are bored in the drumand contain the springs 107 which operate the bell cranks. The springsare held in place by the screws 108 which fit into the holes.

A hinge, 109 shown in detail in Fig. 11, is contained in the spoke 103and allows it to actuate the arcuate member 10 1- only on the downwardstroke of the shaft 75 and connected cam. The hinge consists of twoportions 110 and 111 which are fitted together by a pin which passesthrough lugs 112, 113, and 114C. Thetwo faces 115 and 116 fit togetherso as to prevent the hinge from turning downward, while the two upperfaces 117 and 118 are spread apart sufliciently to allow the member 110to be raised upward a slight distance. This distance is sufficient toallow the cam 76 to pass on its upward stroke without moving the arcuatemember. The plate 119 placed over the entire top of the drum -14: holdsthe bell cranks and op erating mechanism in position. This plate isfastened to the drum by screws 120. Spaces 15 corresponding to thegrooves in the drum are formed in the plate and allow the carbon rods121 to project therethrough.

Referring to the enlarged view of the bell crank levers a7 shown in Fig.10, the pins 105 which fit in the drum and plate are the axes upon whichthe levers revolve. The springs act on the ends 123 (Fig. 10) to pushthe cranks in contact with the carbons which are engaged by theprojections 125. Other projections 1241 engage the arcuate member 104:.Projections 125 are beveled ofi at 126 to allow the rising carbons toopen the catches as will be described later.

Figs. 12, 13, 14,15, and 16 show several views of the catch 127 placedin the hole 128 in the drum 23 to retain the drum stationary during aportion of the time. This catch engages the plate 11 of drum 14 by meansof the lug 129 which fits into the notches 12 in the periphery thereof.The spring 130 which operates the catch 127 is preferably fitted in ahole in the bottom of the catch itself. Its spring action is exertedbetween the catch and the base of the hole 128 of the stationary drum23, so that the lug 129 of the catch is continually cated by the arrow.

pressed against the edge of the lower surface of the rotating plate 41.In this position the lug 129 can slip into a notch 42 when they are incorresponding positions. To disengage the lug, the arm 29 moves againstthe cam surface 131 during its return stroke. The catch 33 fits in thenotch when the lug 129 is moved down by the arm.

The mode of operation of the machine is as follows: It will be assumedthat the various parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, and thedirection of revolution indi- The shaft 2 is rotated throughapproximately 90 degrees before the roller 6 engages the cam surface 16.During this movement, the shaft 75 has been moved downward one-half ofits total travel and the cam lever S has remained stationary. The nextmovement of somewhat less than 90 degrees of the shaft causes the upperend of lever 8 to be moved through its total travel to the left. Thismovement, transmitted through the various links and slide to the arm 29causes the drum 44 to be turned through an angle of 72 degrees or aspace of four dies. Just as the drum reaches the end of this movement,lug 129 (Fig. 14) on the catch 127 enters one of the notches 42 andholds the drum and carbons in alinement with the dies beneath them.Simultaneously or immediately afterward, the cam 70 on the shaft 75pushes inward on the arm 103 and moves the arcuate member 104 againstthe ends of the bell crank levers 47.

This releases all the carbons, and they drop into the dies directlybelow.

To fill the drum, the operator presses downward on pedal 56 which pullsback the back board 51. He then places a bundle of carbons in the hopperwith the axes of the carbons parallel and in the same direction as thegrooves 45 of the drum 44. The pedal is then released and the carbonsare retained in a vertical position by the backboard 51. The springs 60force the back against the carbons where they are held against the drumand are either pushed at once into the slots 45 and engaged in the bellcranks or are later forced thereinto when the drum is moved by the arm29. The carbons engage the rounded end 125 of the bell crank lever andthe pressure of the springs 60 against the carbons is sufficient tocause them to push back the lever against the tension of the springs 107and thus they are locked in the slots.

In the first set of four dies 95, having a diameter of .495, all of thecarbons having this diameter or less will drop through the dies in thestationary drum and be deflected into the bin 7 9 by means of theconical surface 53 and guiding box 78. If any of the carbons have agreater diameter than .495, they will not pass through the dies, butwill stick therein. The upper ends of the dies are rotation of the drum.

slightly funnel shaped so that all carbons will wedge therein and beheld. in perpendicular position if they are too large to pass through.The succeeding movement of the shaft 2 through substantially degreescauses no movement of the lever 8 and hence, the drum 44 is stationary.This follows from the fact that the cam surface 15 is concentric to theshaft 2 when the lower end of the cam lever has moved to the full extentto the right. The next movement of the shaft 2 through 90 degrees causesthe upper end of the lever arm 8 to move toward the right on acccount ofthe roller 6 engaging the cam surface 14. During this movement the catch33 (Fig. 5) slides out of the notch 42 in the plate owing to the rearslanting surface 37 thereof and when the arm 29 approaches the backwardlimit of its movement it engages the cam surface 131 of the catch 127and forces the lug 129 out of the notch 42. Further movement of the arm29 causes the catch 33 to enter this notch. There is a short period whenneither the lug nor the catch 33 engages the notch 42, but the tendencyto rotate the drum backward by the slight friction of the catch 33against the plate 41 would be resisted by the greater friction of thecarbons in the hopper against the drum and by the inertia of the drum.

The arm is now set for another partial During this move ment and theprevious movement of 90 degrees of the shaft 2, the shaft 75 has causedthe member 76 and the attached rods 92 to rise until they engage thecarbons that have stuck in the dies. The upward movement of the rodsfinally forces the carbons again behind the bell crank catches of thedrum. The cam surface 126 enables the upward thrust of the carbons topush the bell cranks back against the force of springs 107 as shown inFig. 10. The carbons that were too large to pass through the or .495dies would therefore be pushed back into the drum again.

For the purpose of explanation, it will be assumed that in the first setof four, one carbon had a diameter of .493, the second a diameter of.497, the third a diameter of .502, and the fourth a diameter of .512.After this first revolution of shaft 2, it will be apparent that thecarbon #1 has passed through the dies 95 and dropped into hopper 7 9 Toprevent the upward movement of the cam 76, from needlessly operating thereleasing member 104, the end of this lever is pivotedand arranged sothat the upward engagement of the cam merely turns the hinged end on apivot 109 and therefore does not operate the member. However, on thedownward stroke, the pivoted end lies against the top of the drum 44 andthe down- 1ward movement operates the releasing mem The next revolutionof shaft 2 will cause the parts to be operated exactly in the same wayand another set of four carbons will be moved from the hopper andreleased over the first set of dies. The second set of carhens and allsucceeding ones will operate exactly in the same way as the first set,and for convenience, the first only will be traced in the movement ofthe machine. Carbons #2, #3, and #4 will, in the meantime, have beenmoved over the second set of four dies 96 which have diameters of .500.When the cam 76 releases the catches, carbons #2, #3, and #4 of thefirst set will fall into the 96 or .500 dies. Carbon #2 was assumed tohave a diameter of .497 and therefore, will pass through its die in thesecond set and fall through its slot in the stationary drum, and bedeflected into its bin 7 9 Carbons #3 and #4, however, will stick in the96 or .500 dies and will again be pushed up into the catches on thereturn movement of the rods 92.

The next movement of the drum will place carbons #3 and #4 over thethird set of four dies 97 which have diameters of .505. .Vhen the cam 76 operates on the releasing member and bell cranks to free the carbons,they will drop into their corresponding dies. Since #3 was assumed tohave a diameter of .502, it will pass through its die in this group andbe deflected into the box or bin 7 9". Carbon #4 having a diameter of.512, will stick in its die and will be pushed back into the catch ofthe drum by the rods 92 on their return stroke. The next movement of thedrum will place carbon #4 over one of the four 98 openings in thestationary drum. which have no dies and when it is released by the cam76 it falls directly through into the bin 73 No dies are placed in thispart of the stationary drum 23 as all oar. bons having a greaterdiameter than .505

are to be dropped into the bin 7 3 regardless of how much they exceedthis diameter. These carbons would be scrapped.

in brief then, the operation of the ma chine is to drop the carbons intodies of successively increasing diameter until they engage the correctdie. Until they are dropped into the correct die, they will be returnedback into position to be redropped.

The operation of the machine is, therefore, continuous and entirelyautomatic. The carbons are forced into the slots in the drum 44 from thehopper and on each partial movement of the drum. four carbons areremoved from the hopper and will be sorted eventually into theircorresponding bin. The bins 73 73 7 3 and 73 will therefore be filledwith carbons haying diameters between .490 to .495; .495 to .500: .500to .505; and over .505 respectively. The diameters of the car ons arearbitrarily assumed and the machine can be made to sort carbons of anydiameter, and between any limits by using dies of certain diameters. Ithas been assumed that four carbons are fed from the'hopper at eachpartial revolution of the drum but obviously eight or any number may befed in like manner by properly constructing the machine.

This completes the operation involved in sorting four carbons and itwill be noted that the entire periphery of the drum 44 is in usecontinuously, although I have simply followed four carbons from the timeof leaving the hopper. Each revolution of the driving shaft 2 will feedfour carbons out of the hopper and carbons will consequently be gaged atthat rate. Of course it will be understood that this number is assumedmerely as an illustration. The drum might be proportioned with 30 42,56, or as many dies asdesired, depending upon the number of sizes intowhich the objects are to be sorted. Thirty dies would provide one-sixthsection for the hopper and onesixth of a section for each of the fivelarge hoppers which will in turn be divided into five sections whichwill contain five dies of the same size. In such a machine, sixrevolutions of the shaft 2 would be required to produce one revolutionof the drum.

In the practical operation of this machine, the dies, plate, cylindersand other parts may be easily removed and replaced to be adaptable forvarious sizes of rods. The machine is entirely automatic and it willonly be necessary to place the rods in the feeding hopper and removethem from L the hoppers at the bottom after being assorted.

Another modification somewhat similar to that previously described isshown in Figs.

17 to 21. In the description of this modification, I will describe onlythe features in which th1s apparatus differs from those alreadydescribed.

Referring particularly to Figs. 18 and 19,

the drum 132 is keyed to a rotatable shaft 135 which has 24 grooves 133out therein although as in the previous modification, any number may beused. Plates 134 rigidly fastened to the shaft, carry split dies 174,175, 176, 177 and 178. These are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 19. Theyare shown in detail in Figs. 20 and. 21. The distance between the bottomof the dies in one carrying plate and the top of the die in the nextcarrying plate below is approximately the same as the length of the rodsbeing gaged. The hopper 146 which has been previously described indetail with reference to 17. Shaft 135 is driven by shaft 143, worm 144and gear 145. The shaft 135 may rest on the roller bearings 146 toreduce the friction;

Referring to Figs. 20 and 21, the die is divided into three parts 151which are fitted into a holder 152. This holder rests in a hole boredinto the plate 134 and is rigidly held therein by the collar 153 and nut154. The die 151 is forced down into the die holder along the slantingsurface 155 by the cap 156 to which two springs 157 are attached bymeans of pins 158. The cap 156 is movable up and down under the actionof the springs, the pins moving in the slots 159. The die is opened bymeans of the hollow sleeve 160 and the conical surface 161 on the cap156. The sleeve 160 is raised by the lugs 162 bolted to the inside ofthe arms 163 which are pivoted at 164. Pivot 164 is connected to thebolt 165 which also serves the purpose of connecting the plates 134 tothe parts 166. The parts 166 are also shown in Fig. 19 and join theplates 134 to the shaft 135 so as to make them all move together. Wheel167 turns on a projection 168 of the piece 169 joined to the end of thearms 163. The wheel 167 is moved along the cam surface 137 for instanceand raises and lowers the lugs 162 on the arms 163. Motion transmittedfrom 162 is imparted to the sleeve 160 which in turn opens the dies byspreading them out on the slanting surfaces 155. The springs 157 pressdown on the cap 156 and the conical surface 161 thereon causes the dieparts to follow the conical surface 155. The lugs 162, however, areplaced in such a position that they will not interfere with the rodswhen they drop through the dies.

In Fig. 22, I have shown a perspective view with parts broken away of ahopper and guideway which may be used with either form of my device. Theflanged portion 169 is placed directly under the dies and the rods slidedown between the guide ways 170 to the platform 171. A slanting surface172 then conducts the rods into the large holder 173 from which theymay'then be removed at intervals. 2

in Fig. 17, which is partial development, only six grooves and six diescorresponding therewith are shown. In this view, the rollers 167 areillustrated as op erating. directly on the split dies instead of throughthe members 162 and 160. The dies'ar'e also shown more or lessdiagrammatically so as to give a ready understand ing ofthe mode ofoperation. The details of the dies and opening means are shown in Figs.20 and 21. i

Figs. 18 and 19 show guide ways 170 and six hoppers173 173 17 3 17 3 173 and 173?. The hoppers are fitted below the over the hopper 173supporting base 142 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 19.

In this modification all the dies 174 in the top plate 134 are assumedto have a di ameter of .490 inches. The dies 175, 17 6, 177 and 178 areassumed to have a diameter of .495, .500, .505 and .510 respectively.There are five circular die carrying plates 134 and all the dies in eachplate are of the same diameter. 4

Assuming that the rods are to be sorted into six groups, the operationof this modification is as follows:

The drum 132, dies 174, 175, 176, 177 and 17 8 and the opening means 167will be continuously rotated, while the hoppers 146 and 173 and the cams137, 138, 139, 140, and 141 will remain stationary. During the rotation,arod will be fed into each groove 133 and then as soon as the drum isrotated sufliciently to clear the projection 174 on through the dies175, 176, 177 and 178, the

diameter of which has been assumed .495. .500, .505, and .510. If anyrod is larger .than .490, it will stick and then be rotated until it isover the hopper 17 3 The split die 174 will be opened by the action ofthe cam 1'37 and the opening means. The rod is then released and fallsinto the die 17 5, the diameter of which has been assumed .495. If therod is of sufficiently small diameter to drop through the die, it willpass through each of the larger dies'below and be deposited into thehopper 173. If, on the other hand, it will not pass through the 175dies, it will be rotated until it comes The dies 175 will then be openedand the rod be dropped into the .500 dies designated as 176 dies. If therod is smaller than .500, it will drop into the hopper 173 but if itsticks in that die, 176, it will be rotated until it is over the hopper173 The die will then be opened by the cam 139 and the opening means,and the rod released into the dies 177 having a. diameter of .505. If itcannot pass through the 177 dies into the hopper 173, it will be carriedon until it is over the hopper 173. The 17 7 dies will then be opened,and the rod dropped into the dies 178 of 1510 diameter. If it passesthrough the 17 8 The cam 137 in conjunction with springs 157,. it willbe noted, closes the dies 17 i over the hopper 173, but keeps them openduring the rest of the revolution. Cam 138 and springs 157 keep the dies175 closed over the hoppers 173 and 17 3 Cam 139 closes dies 176 overthe hopper 173 and they remain closed over the hoppers 173 173 178 Cam 110 closes the dies 177 over the hopper 173 173 17 3 and 173 Cam 141closes the dies over the hopper 173 and is closed over all the hoppersexcept 173?.

In this device, it will be advisable to use means for blowing dust anddirt out of the dies while they are open so that they will close totheir true diameter. This is accomplished by the fan 147 and air pipes148 and 150 placed in the position shown.

In the second modification, the split dies eliminate several of theparts used in the first described form of apparatus. The form of hoppersand means for opening and closing the split dies may be replaced byanother means, and I have merely shown a simple and typical arrangementfor performing this function.

Having described my invention, what I claim is i 1. In apparatus forsorting articles, a plurality of dies consisting of circular openings ofsuccessively increasing size for passing cylindrical articlestherethrough, a carrying member having a plurality of relatively longrecesses adapted to be placed in alinement with the die openings, meansfor feeding articles into the recesses, and means for producing relativemovement between the dies and carrying member.

2. In apparatus for sorting articles, a plurality of circular dies ofsuccessively in creasing size, for passing cylindrical articlestherethrough, a vertical drum having a plurality of grooves on itscylindrical surface, said grooves being adapted to be placed inalinement with the die openings, means for depositing the articles inthe dies when the grooves are in alinement therewith, means for fittingthe articles in the grooves and means for producing relative movementbetween the dies and the drum.

3. In apparatus for sorting articles, a plurality of circular dies ofsuccessively increasing size for passing cylindrical articlestherethrough, a vertical drum having a plurality of grooves on itscylindrical surface, said grooves being adapted to be placedsimultaneously in alinement with the die openings, means for depositingarticles in the dies when the grooves are in alinement therewith, ahopper, means for moving the articles from the hopper into the grooves,and means for producing relative movement between the dies and the drum.

4:. In apparatus for sorting articles, a

plurality of dies of varying sizes, a movable member for carrying thearticles to the dies and depositing them therein, means for removing thearticles from the dies and de positing them in the movable member whenthey fail to pass through the dies, and means for feeding the articlesinto said movable member.,

5. In apparatus for sorting articles, a plurality of dies ofsuccessively increasing size, means for carrying articles successivelyto said dies comprising a movable member having a plurality of recessesadapted to be placed in alinement with the dies, means for depositingthem in the smallest die, means for removing the article and depositingit into the movable member whereby it is deposited into a die of largersize if it fails to pass through the smaller die.

6. In apparatus for sorting articles, a plurality of circular dies ofsuccessively in creasing size, a member having a plurality of recessesfor feeding the articles to the dies, said recesses being adapted to beplaced in alinement with the dies, means for intermittently moving saidmember and means for pushing an article back into said member if itfails to pass through a die whereby it may be fed into another die.

7 In apparatus for sorting articles, a. plate having a plurality of diestherein of varying size, a rotatable member for feeding the articles tothe dies, and means for lifting an article back into the said member ifit fails to pass through a die whereby it may be fed to another die.

8. In apparatus for sorting articles, a plurality of dies ofsuccessively increasing size, carrying means for said articles passingadjacent said dies in succession, means for releasing an article intothe smallest die, means for replacing said article back into saidcarrying means if it fails to pass therethrough and means whereby it isdeposited in succession in the other dies until it reaches onepermitting it to pass through.

9. In apparatus for sorting articles, a plate having a plurality of diestherein of successively increasing size, a rotating drum having aplurality of grooves therein for feeding the articles to the dies, areciprocating member for raising an article back into said grooves if itfails to pass through a die and means for depositing the article intodies of successively increasing size until it reaches one permitting itto pass therethrough.

10. In apparatus for sorting articles, a plurality ofdies ofsuccessively increasing size, carrying means for said articles, saidmeans having a plurality of catches for holding the articles, means forrotating said carrying means adjacent to'the dies, means for releasingthe catches when they are opposite the dies whereby the articles heldtherein are deposited in the adjacent dies, means for replacing allarticles failing to pass therethrough back into said catches and meansfor receiving the articles passing through the dies. I I

11. In apparatus for sorting articles, a plurality of dies ofsuccessively increasing size, carrying means for said articles, saidmeans having a plurality of catches for holding the articles, means forrotating Said carrying means adjacent to the dies, means 7 for releasingthe catches when they are opposite the dies whereby the articles heldthe ein are deposited in the adjacent dies, and means for replacing allarticles failing to pass therethrough back into said catches.

In apparatus for sorting articles, a plurality of dies of successivelyincreasing size, a rotating drum having grooves for carrying thearticles, a plurality of catches for holding the articles in saidgrooves, means for rotating said drum over the dies, means for engagingthe catches to release the articles to deposit them in the dies, meansfor replacing into the grooves all articles failing to pass through thedies, means for re-opening the catches to permit them to reengage saidarticles and a plurality of hoppers for receiving the articles passingthrough dies of different sizes.

13. In apparatus for sorting articles, a stationary member containing aplurality of dies of successively increasing size, a movable member,catches in said movable member for holding articles therein, means foropening the catches to release the articles when they are above thedies, a plurality of rods for pushing all articles failing to passthrough the dies back into said catches, and means whereby the articlesare dropped successively into the dies until they reach one permittingthem to pass through.

14-. In apparatus for sorting articles, a member having a plurality ofsubstantially equidistant recesses for receiving the articles, a supportcontaining a plurality of substantially equidistant dies of varyingsizes adapted to be placed in alinement with said recesses, means forretaining the articles in said recesses above the plane of the dies,means for simultaneously depositing the articles in the recesses intothe dies and means for producing relative movement be- I tween therecessed member and the die carrying support. I

15. In apparatus for sorting articles, a rotatable drum having aplurality of equidistant grooves at equal radius from the center of thedrum for carrying the articles, a support containing a plurality ofsubstantially equidistant dies of varying sizes adapted to besimultaneously placed in alinement with said grooves, means forretaining the articles in said-grooves above the plane of the dies,means for simultaneously depositing the articles in the grooves into thedies, and means for feeding the articles into said drum.

16. In apparatus for sorting articles, a movable member having aplurality of sub stantially equidistant recesses for receiving thearticles, a support containing a plurality of substantially equidistantdies of varying sizes adapted to be placed in alinement with saidrecesses, means for retaining the articles in the recesses, means forreleasing the articles when the recesses are in alinement with the dies,means for simultaneously depositing the articles in the recesses intothe dies, and means for producing relative movement between the recessedmember and the die carrying support.

17. In apparatus for sorting articles, a drum having a plurality ofsubstantially equidistant recesses for receiving the articles, a supportcontaining a plurality of substantially equidistant dies of varyingsizes adapted to be simultaneously placed in alinement with saidrecesses, means for retaining the articles in the recesses, means forsimultaneously depositing the articles in the recesses into the dies,means for pushing an article back into a recess if it fails to passthrough a die, means for feeding arti cles into the recesses and meansfor intermittently rotating the drum.

18. In apparatus for sorting articles, a stationary member containing aplurality of sets of dies of successively increasing size, a movablemember, catches in the movable member for holding articles therein,means for feeding a plurality of articles into the movable member to beheld by the catches, means for opening the catches when the articles aredirectly above the set of smallest dies whereby they are depositedtherein, and a plurality of rods for replacing all articles failing topass therethrough back into the catches.

19. In apparatus for sorting articles, a stationary member containing aplurality of sets of dies of successively increasing size, a movablemember, catches in the movable member for holding articles therein,means for feeding a plurality of articles into the movable member to beheld by the catches, means for opening the catches when the articles aredirectly above the set of smallest dies whereby they are depositedtherein, and a plurality of rods for replacing all articles failing topass therethrough back into the catches, and means for releasing saidarticles over dies of successively increasing size until they reach adie permitting them to pass through.

20. In apparatus for sorting articles, a stationary member containing aplurality of dies of successively increasing size, a movable memberhaving catches for holding an ticles therein, a hopper for feeding thearticles into the movable member, means for moving the movable memberintermittently through a predetermined angle, means for opening thecatches, a plurality of rods and means for pushing a rod through eachdie.

21. In apparatus for sorting articles, a circular plate containing aplurality of dies of successively increasing size spaced equal distancesfrom the center and equal angular distances from adjacent dies, arotatable member co-aXial with said plate, having catches for holdingarticles therein, a hopper for feeding the articles into the rotatingmember, means for rotating said member intermittently through an angulardistance which is an exact multiple of the angular distance betweenadjacent dies, and means for opening the catches when the articles areover the dies.

22. In apparatus for sorting articles, a circular member containing aplurality of dies of successively increasing size spaced equal distancesfrom the center and equal angular distances from adjacent dies, arotatable member co-axial with said first mentioned member havinggrooves in alinement with said dies and spaced apart equal angulardistances, a plurality of'catches for holding the articles in thegrooves, means for rotating said second mentioned member intermittentlythrough an angular distance which is an exact multiple of the angulardistance between adjacent dies, and means for opening the catches.

28. In apparatus for sorting articles, a stationary member, a pluralityof dies therein, a movable member having catches for holding articlestherein, means for moving the second member a predetermined distance, areciprocating shaft, a plurality of rods secured thereto and means onsaid shaft to open said catches.

24:. In apparatus for sorting articles, a stationary member having aplurality of dies, a movable member having a plurality of catches forholding the articles, means for moving the second member a predetermineddistance, a reciprocating shaft, a plurality of rods connected to movetherewith, a member for releasing the catches and means cooperating withsaid shaft to operate said member only on one stroke of the shaft.

25. In an apparatus for sorting articles, means for receiving thearticles, catches for holding them therein, a member for releasing thecatches, a reciprocating shaft and means cooperating with said shaft foracting on said member to cause the opening of the catches.

26. In a member for receiving articles to be sorted, a bell crank leveradapted to retain an article, a member for operating said bell crankmember, means for moving said member to engage the bell crank lever, andan intermediate member cooperating with said means and said firstmentioned member, and means whereby the first mentioned means moves thefirst mentioned member every other time it engages the intermediatemember.

27. In a member for receiving articles to be sorted, bell crank leversadapted to retain the articles, a member for engaging the ends of saidbell crank levers, a lever pivoted to said member and a shaft adapted tobe reciprocated', located adjacent said lever, and having means tooperate it in its reciprocations.

28. In sorting apparatus, a cylindrical drum having grooves in itssurface, bell crank levers pivoted to said drum with one end adjacentthe grooves to hold articles therein, a plurality of dies adjacent saidgrooves and a member for engaging the other end of the bell crank leversto release the articles and drop them into the dies.

29. In apparatus for sorting articles, a rotating cylinder having aplurality of grooves in its cylindrical surface, a hopper containing thearticles and inclosing a section of the cylinder, a movable back in thehopper, a spring secured to said back to force it against the articlesin the hopper,

and means for operating the back in oppo-' sition to said spring.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo Witnesses.

WILLIAM SHAW. Witnesses IRA J. ADAMS, H. G. GROVER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

